A Whale of a Pattern

Maybe I just like wayward sea creatures. Maybe I'm partial to the Gowanus Canal. Or maybe I needed something to smile about. But for some reason, the tale of Sludgie the Whale -- a minke whale who ended up in Brooklyn -- really captured my imagination yesterday.

To be honest, I doubted his existence at first. Surely it's a large dog, I said to my editor, or maybe a section of sewer pipe. After all, we're always chasing down tips of adults floating in the East River that end up being pieces of cardboard. My colleague pointed out that it was likely the bloated body of a mobster, a species more frequently spotted in the Gowanus.

But he was a whale, and he was dubbed Sludgie by an editor with fond memories of Fudgie the Whale. (We didn't have Carvels in Western Pa. when I was growing up, so I've never tasted this treat. Sigh.)

So last night, I decided that the world wouldn't be complete without a crocheted Sludgie. I think the world needs more newsworthy knits! So here he is, complete with removable water spout, if anyone is similarly captivated by him:




Sludgie the Whale pattern

Materials:
Brown Sheep Cotton Fleece, small portion of the skein
Or whatever gray yarn you may have in the stash
Zara Plus, baby blue
Or whatever water-colored yarn you may have in the stash
US F/5 3.75 mm
Yarn needle
Small amount stuffing
2 black buttons
Black embroidery thread
Embroidery needle

Gauge:
Who cares?

Abbreviation:
sc = single crochet
sc2tog = single crochet two together, decreasing a stitch.

Notes:
Sludgie is crocheted in two pieces then seamed.

Whale:
Rnd 1: With gray yarn, chain 30, turn
Rnd 2: Sc in each stitch across. Ch 1, turn.
Rnd 3: 2 sc in first stitch, sc in each stitch across, 2sc in last stitch. Ch1 turn.
Rnd 4 and 5: Repeat rounds 2 and 3 once more.
Rnd 6, 7, 8: Repeat round 2.
Body:
Rnd 9: sc across 20 stitches, ch 1, trn.
Rnd 10, 11, 12 and 13: sc across 20 stitches, ch 1, turn.
Rnd 14: Sc2tog, sc across until last stitch, Sc2tog.
Rnd 15: sc in each stitch across.
Repeat last two rows four times more. Fasten off.
Tail:
Reconnect yarn to row 8, opposite beginning of body.
Rnd 9: sc 8, ch1, turn.
Rnd 10 - 15: sc across, ch1, turn.
Rnd 16: 2sc in first stitch, sc across, 2sc in last stitch, ch 1, turn.
Repeat last round five times more
Rnd 22: 2sc in first stitch, sc across next 8 stitches, slip stitch in next 3 stitches, sc across next 8 stitches, 2sc in last stitch. Fasten off.

Repeat Rnds 1 to 22 for other side of Sludgie.

Embroider face:
Sew one button on each side of whale for eyes. Embroider a cute smile on each side with thread and needle.

Seam:
With gray yarn and yarn needle and starting at left top of whale‘s head, seam the two sides of Sludgie using whatever method you are comfy with. Stuff the whale as you go, making sure that all yarn ends are secured inside. Give him a snug for good measure.

Removable water spout:
I kinda improvised this. I tied the baby blue yarn in a knot at the bottom of a match, then wrapped the yarn tightly around the match, up and down three times. I tied it in a knot at the top then, using a yarn needle, drew the yarn through the top six times, leaving large loops. I bet there’s a better method out there.